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SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION
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proposing a constitutional amendment relating to a person's freedom |
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of religion. |
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 6, Article I, Texas Constitution, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 6. (a) All men have a natural and indefeasible right |
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to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own |
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consciences. No man shall be compelled to attend, erect or support |
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any place of worship, or to maintain any ministry against his |
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consent. No human authority ought, in any case whatever, to control |
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or interfere with the rights of conscience in matters of religion, |
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and no preference shall ever be given by law to any religious |
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society or mode of worship. |
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(b) Government may not burden a person's or religious |
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organization's Freedom of Religion. The right to act or refuse to |
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act in a manner motivated by a sincerely held religious belief may |
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not be burdened unless the government proves it has a compelling |
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governmental interest in infringing the specific act or refusal to |
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act and has used the least restrictive means to further that |
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interest. A burden includes indirect burdens such as withholding |
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benefits, assessing penalties, or an exclusion from programs or |
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access to facilities. |
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(c) But it shall be the duty of the Legislature to pass such |
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laws as may be necessary to protect equally every religious |
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denomination in the peacable enjoyment of its own mode of public |
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worship. |
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SECTION 2. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be |
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submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 5, 2013. |
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The ballot shall be printed to provide for voting for or against the |
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proposition: " The constitutional amendment relating to a person's |
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freedom of religion. |